Seriously, I know Bill isn't the greatest driver to live, but I think it is important to show people that the average person can still do something and make it in today's corporate sports world while having a ton more fun than the corporate drones are.

This may be a long shot (even compared to JB getting a car to a Challenge) but it might wake ESPN, XGames, etc. up to actually pursue all sports and their participants more equally, rather than the ones that give them money.

Sam Smith is making a good case for his invitation. They need to attract the viewer base Caswell has collected all of a sudden, look at all the empty seats in that picture of the Evo. That's a motherberkeleying car flying through the motherberkeleying air, and there are empty seats.

unevolved wrote:
Sam Smith is making a good case for his invitation. They need to attract the viewer base Caswell has collected all of a sudden, look at all the empty seats in that picture of the Evo. That's a motherberkeleying car flying through the motherberkeleying air, and there are empty seats.
They've got a PR problem.

All I can say is J B Niday's argument "To place Bill Caswell in the X Games would mean passing over dozens of more deserving, more talented, more experienced, and FASTER drivers." is a crock of E36 M3.

Please, hands in the air for all those more deserving, more talented, more experienced, and faster drivers unwilling to self-promote, go balls-to-the-wall and Rally Mexico and other major events simply to highlight their dream and still finish these races in an utter crapcan built by an everman in his mom's garage...

That's what I thought, some people expect opportunity to present itself when the time is right, others make opportunity happen...

I for one WILL watch the X-Games which I have not done in YEARS because it's become too MAINSTREAM if they put Bill in the lineup...

Hmmmm, according to their rationale Deegan shouldn't have an invite either. I don't see him listed as participating in any rallys this year. He also only participated in one rally last year and ended up 40th in the 2009 standings.

Marty! wrote:
Hmmmm, according to their rationale Deegan shouldn't have an invite either. I don't see him listed as participating in any rallys this year. He also only participated in one rally last year and ended up 40th in the 2009 standings.
Do you also want to know who else tied at 40th? Bill Caswell......
Me thinks it's all a dog and pony show.

The best is Niday's rationale that Caswells only win was because the top drivers DNF'd, umm, I thought in racing to win, one must first finish, no matter how 'good' you are...

If Bill did not know Sam Smith, where would he be? I think Dave Carapeyan should go to X Games instead of Bill. Dave has an even lower budget than Bill. So send an e-mail to sam@jalopnik.com Tell him you want Dave Carapetyan in X Games and not Bill Caswell. At least Dave has a suitable car.

Full disclosure: I'm a 2wd rally fanboy and full-time lurker on specialstage.com. I also new who Caswell was well before the WRC Rally Mexico story broke. One of our local rallycrossers was his co-driver at LSPR.

I'm all for Mr. Caswell, but an X Games invite is unrealistic in my opinion.

Chris Duplesis did get invited this year. He's the dude consistently kicking butt in his A2 VW GTi. He finished 2nd in 2wd at Olympus without his normal co-driver in a near stock Scion Xd sponsored by 0-60. At Sno*Drift he finished 11th overall and over 30 MINUTES ahead of the second place 2wd.

Here's what Niday had to say about it on specialstage.com:

"My message is that Bill's doing some great self-promotion, but I'd have to jump over dozens of better qualified guys to consider him for X Games... his speed factor is only 33... Duplessis' is 67... I think that says it all right there.

The "everyman" story at X Games 16 is Chris Duplessis! He's been killing it in 2WD and now he gets a chance to show his stuff with an Open Class car at X Games... let's get behind THAT story!
JBN "

And just because, this has been my wallpaper for a few weeks:
Who says you need rwd to get sideways?

cghstang wrote:
The "everyman" story at X Games 16 is Chris Duplessis! He's been killing it in 2WD and now he gets a chance to show his stuff with an Open Class car at X Games... let's get behind THAT story!
JBN "
And just because, this has been my wallpaper for a few weeks:
Who says you need rwd to get sideways?

Gonna have to agree with this guy, Caswell got his name out there but Duplessis has done an awesome job in the standings. I've heard of both guys with my limited rally knowledge and the better performer should get the nod.